Written by Paul Vettise
The starting point of the autumn campaign of the G1 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War {USA}) has still to be locked in, but he’ll be in top shape for whatever first-up goal he’s aimed at.
The 4-year-old received top marks from jockey Craig Williams, who partnered him to glory at Flemington, after riding the stayer in an 1190 metre hitout at the Cranbourne trials on Tuesday morning.
Vow And Declare sat back in the small field before improving near the turn and was allowed to run home under his own steam to finish runner-up behind Shephard (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), who led all the way.
“He’s come back in great shape and we just wanted a nice, soft trial. That was perfect and Craig was very happy with him,” said Ben Gleeson, assistant to trainer Danny O’Brien.
“He’s strengthened up and Craig was very complimentary and said he feels like a man now – he’s broader and certainly put on plenty of weight and spelled very well and put on about 40kg. At this stage he is right where we want to see him.”
“At this stage he is right where we want to see him.” – Ben Gleeson
O’Brien returned to Australia on Wednesday morning from the United States where he attended the Super Bowl and has been in regular contact with Gleeson.
“He’ll be in first thing after being away for a couple of weeks and he’ll see the improvement the horse has made,” Gleeson said.
Vow And Declare taking out the 2019 Melbourne Cup
Vow And Declare will make his first appearance since triumphing in the Melbourne Cup in Group 1 company over 2000 metres, with the venue either Flemington or Randwick.
“It’s 50-50 between the Australian Cup or the Queen Elizabeth S. and we’ll see how he comes through this trial first,” Gleeson said. “Dan may look to trial him again or he might look to go straight to the Australian Cup.
“If we trial him again we’d probably go straight up to Sydney because it would be a bit longer between runs. It’s a toss-up between the two at the moment.”
“If we trial him again we’d probably go straight up to Sydney because it would be a bit longer between runs.” – Ben Gleeson
The heat winner Shepard is trained by David Brideoake for Peter Moody, who bought the 4-year-old for 30,000 gns (AU$57,000) at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale. He has won three of his four Australian starts with his dam a half-sister to the G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Cavalryman (GB) (Halling {USA}).
Of the 2-year-olds on show in three 800 metre heats, the quickest in 45.88s was Phillip Stokes’ Diamonds Inthe Sky (Zoustar), who was making her first trial appearance.
The filly was bought out of Springmount’s weanling draft at the Inglis Great Southern Sale by the McMaster family for $100,000. She is a daughter of Cacophony (Elusive Quality {USA}), who won twice and is from the family of the American Group 2 winner and Group 1 performer My Gi Gi (USA) (E Dubai {USA}).
Shepard (blue cap)
